Ready to have “mochi skin”? Japanese cult beauty brand Hada Labo is now in the country to help Filipinos have mochi or rice-cake skin that is smooth and supple.
Hada Labo, a drugstore brand, has been credited for giving Japanese women mochi skin that is hydrated and “bouncy.”
Gukujyun lotion is the star product, with a bottle sold every four seconds in Japan. Filipinos who used to source it from trips abroad or online sellers can now buy it at Watsons.
Make sure to prep skin with a facial wash. Hada Labo Hydrating Face Wash is for sensitive skin, while the Hydra and Whitening variant have brown algae, grape extract and antioxidants.
For oily skin, try the Deep Clean & Pore Refining face wash with green tea and Bentonite clay.
The lotion is best used with the Hydrating Light Cream with aloe vera and Aqua Oil Volume Matrix technology, or the Hydrating Water Gel with ceramide that helps keep skin supple.
There’s a boxed Hydrating Line Trial Set (face wash, lotion, light cream) for curious beauty newbies.
Hada Labo means “skin laboratory” in Japanese. It took three years to convince its manufacturer, the Mentholatum company, to bring the skincare brand to the Philippines, said Jenny Arcellana, marketing head of the official distributor Cambert Pilipinas, Inc.
Hydrated vs oily skin
Hada Labo goes by the skincare philosophy “Simple x Perfect,” backed by Japanese technology.
The Hydrating Lotion is a clear, viscous liquid that is patted on the face and neck after cleansing. It can be integrated into all multistep skincare routines, from the the laziest to the craziest.
Some use it as a second toner, others like it as light serum. Mentholatum Asia Pacific president Michael Sin uses it as an aftershave to prevent nasty ingrown hair (his skin looks dewy). Sin encourages Filipino men to give it a try, too.
“Japanese skincare routine is just cleanse, hydrate, treat,” Sin said. “If men can use the lotion every day, it becomes a habit and they can develop a love for their skin.”
To use, pour a pea-size drop on the palms, warm it up a bit and apply. The initial sticky feeling goes away after a few seconds.
At the recent launch at The Blue Leaf in Taguig, Dr. Naelong Wang explained the science behind the skincare. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant—a moisture-binding hero ingredient that makes the skin “bouncy.”
Wang discussed the High Performance Penetration & Deep Moisturizing (HPP&M) process that combines four types of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a naturally occurring polysaccharide (carbohydrate) in the body which keeps skin plump.
“Oil is different from moisture,” Wang said. Ever had flaky but insanely oily skin? That’s dehydrated skin. The oil slick happens when the skin overcompensates for the lack of moisture.
Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion combines Nano HA, Super HA, Medium HA and Large HA to reach the skin surface and deeper layers. It has no fragrance, mineral oil, colorant or additives that “burden the skin.”
The lotion works with most skin types; regular use keeps skin fresh. It also primes the skin so the other products can work better.
Hada Labo has several lotion variants in Japan (Premium, light, lifting, whitening), plus cleansing oil, sunscreen and sheet masks, Hoping these will be available in Manila soon.
Visit www.watsons.com.ph
